Canada Post refusing to collect banned guns for Ottawa's buyback program

Daniel Leblanc · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 23, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 15 minutes ago

Canada Post is refusing to collect firearms that were banned by the federal government in 2020, complicating Ottawa's plans for a buyback program to remove 144,000 firearms from private hands, federal sources say.

The Crown corporation informed the government of its position in a recent letter. It said its decision was based on concerns about its employees' security, according to federal sources who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

One key source of concern being cited by Canada Post is the possibility of staff conflicts with gun owners who have been asked to give up their so-called "assault" or "military-style" weapons, which can no longer be used or sold in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals promised a buyback program in both the 2019 and 2021 elections. The government officially announced the process in 2020 and is now hoping to finalize